The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-06-23
DIR. CARROLL.
His Prohibition Theology and
craftsmanship Criticised.

StateSmanSn1p Cr1C1clSeQ.
WACO, Texas, June, Is.
To the Editor of the Austin Statesman.
A visitor to Austin, Texas, from the
prohibition state, Iowa, my interest
in the subject and friends in
fuenced me to become an audi
tor at the Austin opera house, on the 18th
inst. That the prohibition movement in
Texas is theological as we'll as political,
is proven by the fact that doctor of
divinity leads it, and he is supported
actively by thousands of his clerical
brethren. You, DR.. Carroll, asserted
that 'the suppression of the liquor traffic
by law" was ian American idea," a
Southern idea" and even "Jeffersonian
doctrine" Do you stake your character
of truthfulness on these assertions? We
affirm without fear of contradiction, from
any historian, statesman or well informed
divine, that Mahammedan Turkey has by
Sultanic laws, prohibited the liquor traffic
for over three centuries more success
fully than has Maine for thirty-six years.
Dr.Carroll,you are good Mohammedan
on the liquor question, but neither Chris
tian nor Jew. You claimed, doctor, that
the colony of Virginia put into her "or-
ganic law" ''simon-pure prohibition law
one hundred years before Jefferson
signed the Declaration of Independence"
In weighing the force of this statement as
an evidence that "prohibition by law"
sprung from the fertile soil of Virginia,
let it be remembered that King Charles
H., of England, ruled Virginia from 1860
to 1885, or one hundred years before JEFF
ferson signed the Declaration of In
dependence. The will of said king was
the "organic law" of Virginia then. Sir
William Berkeley was the executive of
known in history as a tyrannical servant
of the tyrant, Charles IL. He thanked
God there are no free schools nor print
ing in his colony" and "hoped there
would not be for hundred years, for
learning had brought disobedience into the
world, and printing has divulged them
and libels against the best governments"
His prohibition mandate against the good
people of Virginia and Nathaniel Bacon
called forth rebellion; his name is the
most odious of Yirginia's royal governors,
who had no power themselves, nor their
people, to adopt an organic law prohibit
ing "the manufacture, sale and exchange
of Intoxicating liquor" Arabia or Turkey
must have the honor of the frst-born pro-
hibition country, rather than Virginia.
Let US not steal honor even from the
Mohammedans. 1t would not effect the
sound craftsmanship of your amendment,
DIR. Carroll, whether it was of Mohamme-
dan or of american and southern ORR
gin," as an original "idea." But such
erroneous and stupid statements affect
your character as an apostle of prohibit
ton. But l must try the reliable
ness of your next claim that
the ''idea" of your amend
ment; to-wit: "The manufacture,
sale and exchange of intoxicating liquor"
should be prohibited by law in civilized
country is 'Jeffersonian doctrine" You
claimed to find authority for prohibition
IN Jefferson's letter addressed to
nj. De Melville, of December
IL. 1918, and used several
words of that letter. That claim was
blown to the winds by correct and full
quotation of that letter in last Sundays
STATESMAN.
To show that he was not in practice a
prohibitionist, will quote from Jeffer-
sons letter to Doctor Vine Utley, dated
March FL, 1919. 81 live so much like
other people that l might refer to Ordi-
nary life as the history of mine own. Like
my friend, the doctor, have lived tenn
perately, eating little animal food, and
that not as an aliment, so much as con-
diment for the vegetables, which consti-
tute my principal diet. 1 double, how
ever, the doctors glass and half of wine,
and even treble it with friend, but halve
its effect by drinking the weak wines
only. The ardent wines 1 cannot drink,
nor do 1 use ardent spirits in any form.
Malt liquors and cider are my table
drinks, and my breakfast, like that, also,
of my friend, is tea and coffee"
All true statesmen, whether of the |
democratic or republican school, honor |
Jefferson as profound and wise teacher, |
the greatest philosopher among our great |
est statesmen, whose writings are studied
by the statesmen and historians of the
world. The American people jealousy
guard the dust of the sage of Monticello,
aud they will resent every caricature of
his teachings.
Doctor Carroll, your version of Jeffer-
sons doctrine on prohibition might have
ioouioou III d oudI ~ VI huel IL IL hdu Deeu
presented in 1918. Your prohibition
craftsmanship finds no support in the
teachings of Jefferson, or any of the great
statesmen of our country or Christian
Europe. Go to Mohammedan dervishes if
you want sympathy.
Your craftsmanship is unsound But
prohibition is three-fourths a
theological question. Let us test
its theological soundness. 1efor.
nation of individuals and society in
the interest of temperance is moral
And shat is the aim prohi-
bitionists claim to have in view. But the
reformer of peoples morals and religion
has faith in the efficacy of moral and di-
vine means for accomplishing his mission.
He has also faith in man and his capacity
to be influenced for good. The temper !
ance reformer, who would accomplish the |
good work by law, and its accom- paniment
of police force, revolvers, etc., in word,
by the brute force of government, must
have lost faith in the efficacy of the word
of God aud other moral forces. He treats
man like child or savage, who cannot be
trusted in matters of drink, It has No